Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a symphony of textures and flavors, featuring perfectly crispy chicken, juicy sweet mango, delightfully crunchy chow mein noodles, and nutty sesame seeds, all brought together with an irresistibly sweet and savory homemade sauce.
Searching for the perfect accompaniment to your light and refreshing lettuce wraps? Enhance your meal with a cool and zesty Asian cucumber salad or a simple yet satisfying Roasted Broccoli for added nutrition and flavor.
Unbeatable Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Your Summer Meal Essential
These flavorful chicken lettuce wraps have become an absolute favorite in my kitchen, especially during the warmer months. They embody everything you could want in a quick meal: they’re incredibly fast to prepare, wonderfully light, refreshingly crisp, and packed with an explosion of diverse textures and vibrant flavors. Best of all, there’s no need to heat up your kitchen by turning on the oven – a definite advantage when temperatures soar! We harness the power of an air fryer to achieve perfectly ultra-crispy chicken tenders in a mere 11-12 minutes, and by the time they’re ready, the rest of your ingredients are prepped and waiting, allowing you to assemble your wraps in record time.
The secret to such speedy preparation lies in cleverly utilizing a selection of quality store-bought shortcuts. These ingenious culinary hacks ensure that these delightful wraps can be on your table, ready to enjoy, in under 30 minutes. Let’s dive into these time-saving strategies that make this recipe a weeknight winner.
Smart Shortcuts for Speedy Asian Lettuce Wraps
Our Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort, ensuring they’re ready to serve in 30 minutes or less. By incorporating a few strategic kitchen shortcuts, we achieve this impressive speed without ever compromising on taste – these wraps are bursting with it!
- Pre-Shredded Matchstick Carrots: Skip the chopping and tedious julienning! Head straight to the produce section of your grocery store and grab a bag of pre-shredded matchstick carrots. They are typically located near the fresh baby carrots or full-sized carrots, saving you significant prep time and guaranteeing uniformly cut vegetables.
- Crispy Chow Mein Noodles: Forget the hassle of deep-frying your own noodles. These irresistible, golden, crunchy egg noodles are readily available in most grocery stores. You’ll usually find them in the international aisle alongside other Asian products or sometimes in the dry pasta section. They add an essential textural component that truly elevates the wraps.
- Already Peeled & Cut Mangoes: Many grocery stores now offer mangoes that are already peeled and cut into spears in their produce section. While they might cost a little more, the time saved on peeling and slicing this sometimes-tricky fruit is invaluable. All you need to do is a quick dice of the pre-cut spears, and your sweet, tropical element is ready.
- Crispy Chicken Tenders: This is perhaps the biggest time-saver of all! There’s no need to marinate, bread, or cook raw chicken from scratch for these wraps. Utilizing frozen crispy chicken tenders drastically cuts down on cooking time and effort, allowing you to focus on assembly. We’ll explore this shortcut for the chicken tenders in more detail below.
Achieving Perfectly Crispy Chicken Tenders for Your Wraps
For the ultimate texture in these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps, the key is perfectly crispy chicken. While you can certainly make homemade chicken strips if you prefer, embracing store-bought frozen crispy chicken tenders is a game-changer for speed and convenience. Taste of Home® offers excellent advice on selecting quality chicken tenders for recipes like this. Personally, I frequently use Tyson’s® crispy chicken strips (note: this is not a sponsored recommendation) due to their consistent quality and delicious crunch.
The cooking method is crucial for achieving that desired crispiness. I highly recommend either baking or, even better, air frying the chicken tenders for these lettuce wraps. Microwaving them will result in a soggy texture, which we definitely want to avoid! If you own an air fryer, it is by far our preferred method. It’s incredibly quick, eliminating the need to wait for an oven to preheat, and consistently yields the most superior crispy texture. Once cooked, allow the chicken tenders to cool just enough so they are warm to the touch, then thinly slice or dice them into bite-sized pieces, ready to be added to your vibrant wraps.
Crafting the Irresistible 5-Ingredient Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap Dressing
The homemade dressing is truly the star that ties all the vibrant flavors of these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps together. This sweet and tangy sauce is incredibly simple to make, requiring just five key ingredients, each playing a crucial role in creating a balanced and utterly delicious flavor profile. Here’s what you’ll need and why each component is essential:
- Mayonnaise: Forming the creamy base of our dressing, mayonnaise adds a rich texture and mild tang. We highly recommend using Hellman’s® or Best Foods® mayo for its robust flavor that isn’t overly sweet, providing the perfect foundation for our Asian-inspired sauce.
- Dijon Mustard: This isn’t your average yellow mustard! Dijon mustard, specifically Grey Poupon® Dijon, is our top choice for its sharp, tangy, and subtly spicy notes. It adds a sophisticated layer of flavor and depth that regular yellow mustard simply cannot replicate. Ensure you opt for Dijon to achieve the intended taste.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Despite using only a small amount, toasted sesame oil is the “secret” ingredient that imparts an authentic, nutty, and distinctly Asian aroma and flavor to the dressing. Its potent essence transforms the sauce from good to extraordinary. You’ll typically find this special oil in the Asian ingredients aisle of your grocery store, rather than with other cooking oils.
- Rice Vinegar: This essential ingredient provides a delicate tang that beautifully balances the sweetness of the honey and the richness of the mayonnaise. It’s a milder vinegar compared to white or apple cider vinegar, contributing a subtle acidity without overpowering the other flavors. If you see “rice wine vinegar” on a label, rest assured, it’s the same versatile ingredient.
- Honey: To provide the perfect touch of sweetness, we use honey. We personally enjoy this dressing on the sweeter side, which complements the savory and tangy elements beautifully. However, if you prefer a less sweet profile, I recommend adding the honey gradually, tasting as you go, until you reach your desired level of sweetness.
Quick Tip for Perfect Dressing
For the smoothest and most thoroughly combined dressing, always whisk the ingredients together with a small whisk. Simply stirring with a spoon or fork won’t achieve the same emulsified consistency, which is key to its rich flavor and texture.
How To Assemble Your Delicious Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Bringing these vibrant wraps to life is a simple and enjoyable process. Follow these straightforward steps for the best results:
- Prepare the Crispy Chicken: Begin by cooking your chosen frozen breaded chicken tenders according to the package directions. For optimal crispiness and efficiency, the air fryer is highly recommended. Once cooked, allow them to cool slightly to a warm temperature, then dice them into small, manageable pieces. Be careful not to overcook, as this can lead to dry chicken; aim for tender and juicy interiors with a crispy exterior.
- Wash and Dry Your Lettuce Leaves: Select large, intact leaves from Boston or butter lettuce, as these varieties are ideal for wrapping. Thoroughly wash each leaf under cool water and then dry them completely. You can use a salad spinner or gently pat them dry with paper towels. Dry leaves are essential to prevent soggy wraps and ensure a satisfying crisp bite.
- Whisk Together the Flavorful Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and Dijon mustard. Whisk these ingredients vigorously until the dressing is perfectly smooth and emulsified. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed, adjusting the balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors to your preference.
- Assemble and Serve Immediately: Lay out your clean, dry lettuce leaves. On each leaf, layer a generous portion of the diced crispy chicken, a scattering of sweet mango pieces, some crunchy matchstick carrots, and a tablespoon of crispy chow mein noodles. Drizzle the homemade dressing generously over each wrap. For an extra touch of flavor and visual appeal, you can sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions. Assemble just before serving to maintain maximum freshness and crunch. Enjoy by folding or rolling the lettuce leaves around the fillings.
Customizing Your Asian Lettuce Wraps: Creative Variations
One of the most delightful aspects of lettuce wraps is their incredible versatility. They are incredibly easy to customize, allowing you to tailor them to your personal taste, dietary preferences, or simply what you have on hand. Here are a few exciting ideas to add more vegetables, change up the ingredients, or introduce new flavor dimensions to your wraps:
- Add Sliced Toasted Almonds: For an alternative or additional crunch, consider adding thinly sliced toasted almonds. They offer a slightly different nutty flavor and texture, making them a fantastic substitute if chow mein noodles aren’t available, or a great addition for extra complexity.
- Swap Mango for Other Tropical Fruits: While mango provides a wonderful sweetness, you can easily replace it with other tropical fruits. Diced clementine oranges or pineapple chunks are excellent choices that will still provide that bright, fruity element and a delightful burst of sweetness.
- Introduce Red Cabbage for More Veggies: To boost the vegetable content and add a beautiful splash of color, incorporate thinly sliced red cabbage alongside the matchstick carrots. It offers a mild peppery note and a satisfying crunch, making your wraps even more wholesome and visually appealing.
- Spicy Kick: For those who love a bit of heat, drizzle a touch of sriracha or add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing. Alternatively, offer these as a side for guests to customize their spice level.
- Different Proteins: While chicken is fantastic, feel free to experiment with other proteins. Cooked shrimp, pan-seared tofu, or even ground turkey seasoned with a touch of soy sauce and ginger would make delicious alternatives.
- Water Chestnuts or Bamboo Shoots: For even more authentic Asian-inspired crunch, finely chop some canned water chestnuts or bamboo shoots and add them to the filling.
Choosing the Best Lettuce for Your Wraps
The right lettuce can make all the difference in a perfect lettuce wrap. The goal is a leaf that is sturdy enough to hold your fillings without tearing, yet tender enough to bite through easily and offer a satisfying crispness. Here are your top options:
- Our absolute favorite lettuce for these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps is butter lettuce (also widely known as Boston or Bibb lettuce). It boasts a delicate, slightly sweet flavor, the ideal amount of crispness, and its naturally cupped shape makes it incredibly easy to roll and hold your fillings.
- Green leaf lettuce and iceberg lettuce are also excellent choices for lettuce wraps. Asian-style wraps, in particular, benefit from the vibrant crunch that crispier varieties like iceberg offer. However, it’s worth noting that while iceberg lettuce is very crisp, its leaves can sometimes be more prone to breaking when trying to wrap, so handle with care.
- In a pinch, romaine lettuce can also be a workable option. While its leaves are longer and less cupped than butter lettuce, they still provide a good base and a decent crunch, making them suitable if other varieties are unavailable.
No matter which lettuce you choose, remember the crucial step: wash and dry the leaves thoroughly! Excess moisture will lead to soggy wraps, diminishing the delightful crispy experience.
Explore More Delightful Lettuce Wrap Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps, you’ll be thrilled to discover the versatility of lettuce wraps! They offer a light, healthy, and incredibly customizable meal option that caters to various tastes and dietary needs. Here are some other fantastic lettuce wrap recipes to inspire your next culinary adventure:
- Classic Chicken Lettuce Wraps with savory ground chicken, perfect for a traditional take.
- Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps featuring a rich and tasty peanut sauce dressing for an extra layer of flavor.
- Savory Beef Lettuce Wraps complete with quick-pickled shallots for a tangy kick.
- Zesty Taco Lettuce Wraps, offering a fresh and lighter twist on taco night with seasoned beef.
- Hearty Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps, showcasing the deliciousness of sweet potatoes in a flavorful plant-based option.
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chelsea Lords
15
12
27
4 servings (12 wraps)
Video
Equipment
- Medium bowl
Ingredients
- 13 ounces frozen crispy chicken strips (see note 1)
- 12 large lettuce leaves (Boston or butter lettuce works best)
- 1-1/4 cups diced ripe mango (see note 2)
- 1-1/4 cups matchstick carrots
- 12 tablespoons crispy chow mein noodles
- Toasted sesame seeds (optional)
- Thinly sliced green onions (optional)
- 1/3 cup mayo (I love Hellman’s or Best Foods)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare chicken strips according to package directions (air frying is highly recommended for optimal crispiness). Let cool to warm, then dice into small pieces.
- Thoroughly wash and completely dry 12 large lettuce leaves.
- While the chicken is cooking, whisk all dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl until smooth. Season the dressing with salt and pepper to taste.
- To assemble, fill each lettuce leaf with diced chicken, mango, matchstick carrots, and 1 tablespoon of crispy chow mein noodles. Optionally, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions. Drizzle the prepared sauce generously over the wraps and serve immediately. (Don’t forget to dunk any extra wraps into leftover sauce – delicious!)
Recipe Notes
Note 2: For the best flavor in these wraps, I highly recommend using honey mangoes (also known as Ataulfo or yellow mangoes), which are renowned for being sweeter and creamier than regular mangoes. However, regular mangoes work perfectly well too. To determine if a mango is ripe, gently squeeze the fruit; it should yield slightly. For the most vibrant flavor and ideal texture, wait until your mango reaches peak ripeness before preparing this recipe. For assistance, here’s a quick and helpful visual guide on how to cut a mango.
Storage: Dressed lettuce wraps do not store well as the lettuce can become soggy. If you plan to have leftovers or wish to prepare components ahead of time, store all ingredients separately. Before serving any make-ahead wraps, give the dressing a good whisk again to recombine any separated ingredients before drizzling it over the freshly assembled lettuce wraps.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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